Lucky to be here! Amazing place to work; non-profit with startup vibe - Director Understood Employee Review

5.0
26 Jul 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Our founders have created something wonderful -- a company with an inclusive culture, full of smart and motivated employees who work hard to fulfill our mission. The Org is run like a tech start up but it's non profit so the fun parts are there, without the pressure to meet sales goals. Instead we focus on making an impact for the 1 in 5 who learn & think differently. Work/life balance is a real priority, competitive salaries, amazing benefits & PTO. I feel lucky & proud to work here every single day.

Cons

If you're used to for-profit (my experience), you'll appreciate the do-good aspect & work/life balance while still working at pace & being challenged. I imagine a transition from nonprofit could be somewhat challenging, b/c I understand the biz operates differently (more like a startup). We do have required in-office in NY 2 days/week which isn't for everyone (but office is gorgeous). No major red flags from my perspective.

Explore other reviews about Understood

5.0
21 Feb 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

- Company size is small so you get to meet with nearly every team - Everyone is looking to learn regardless of their expertise

Cons

- There were no cons.

1.0
2 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The primary strength of working at Understood.org is the people. You’ll likely have the opportunity to collaborate with and learn from an exceptionally intelligent group of colleagues. The benefits package is also a meaningful positive.

Cons

While the organization publicly emphasizes a commitment to an inclusive workplace, the lived experience for many does not consistently reflect those stated values. Issues around diversity and inclusion are noticeable, and there are huge gaps between external messaging and internal culture. I personally experienced microaggressions during my time at the organization, and observed a consistent lack of meaningful accountability when these concerns were raised. From a leadership perspective, there is often a sense of uneven capability across teams, with decision-making sometimes feeling disconnected from frontline realities or lacking in clarity and direction. Career progression, or lack thereof is another red flag worth mentioning. Promotions are limited and infrequent and there is little upward mobility over time despite strong performance.

5
See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All